I thank her and sign off, then try to decide on the appropriate form of pre-wedding relaxation. I actually managed to finish Damien’s scrapbook last night, so that’s out. And while my own work has been stacking up, somehow the idea of getting onto the computer and programming just doesn’t appeal.

About the only thing that does, actually, is a walk along the beach. And since I don’t want to go alone, I head downstairs to the first-floor guest suite, knock, and then head into Jamie’s darkened room.

Normally, I’d let her sleep. But since this is my last day as a single best friend, I figure an exception is in order. I pull the covers back and give her a little shake.

“Mmm, Ryan . . .”

I lift my brows, because that’s a very interesting development, but Jamie doesn’t indulge me by talking in her sleep again. Instead, she bolts upright, springing awake.

“Holy fuck, Nikki,” she screeches. “What the hell are you doing?”

I shrug. “Wanna take a walk on the beach?”

Fortunately, Jamie is easygoing. She shoots me a couple of dirty looks for good measure, throws in a curse, but gets dressed. We’re down at the beach within fifteen minutes.

“So, do you have anything to tell me?” I ask.

She stares at me like I’m a loon. “The moon isn’t made of green cheese. Masturbation doesn’t make you go blind. Jethro Tull is a band, not a guy. How do those work for you?”

“Not bad,” I say. “I was thinking more along the lines of Ryan.”

She slows her step. “What about him?”

“Ever since Damien had him take you home that time, you’ve had this thing.”

I expect her to deny it. Instead, she shrugs. “So?”

“So there really is a thing?”

“Not as far as he’s concerned,” she says, her tone frustrated. “As far as I can tell, I’m invisible to him.”

I hook my arm through hers. “I can’t imagine you being invisible to anyone.”

“I know, right? I mean, what’s up with that?”

I laugh. “So what are you going to do?”

“About Ryan?”

“About you.”

She slows her pace. “I don’t know. I didn’t get that commercial that Caleb is directing, but it felt nice doing the audition thing again. But I don’t want to get back on the same hamster wheel, you know? And I’m—” She glances at me, then clams up.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“James . . .”

“Fine. Whatever. It’s just that everything changes with you getting married.”

“I’m still your best friend.” I stop walking, and tug her to a stop, too.

“Well, duh,” she says, in a way that sends a shock of relief running through me. “I just mean that I don’t think I’d do that great living by myself. In case you hadn’t noticed, I have a tendency to run a little wild. And you’re off the roommate market. I thought about living with Ollie, but that might be weird.”

“Ya think?”

She waves a hand. “Nah, that’s over,” she says, referring to their romps between the sheets. “But it still might be weird. Where is he, anyway? He’s coming to the wedding, right?”

“He’s supposed to be at the dinner tonight.” Since we’re not doing a big wedding, we’re not having an official rehearsal dinner. But we are getting a whole slew of our friends together. “He’s been in New York. Depositions, I think he said.”

“And Damien’s cool with him coming tonight?”

“Like you said, it might be weird, but on the whole it’s okay. They aren’t ever going to call each other up to go have a beer at the corner pub, but I think we can manage the occasional dinner and social event.”

“Good.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “Change sucks.”

I think about the changes in my life since Damien entered it, and the ones that are coming. A wedding. Hopefully a family. I smile, then start walking again, tugging Jamie along beside me. “No,” I say firmly. “You’ll see. Change doesn’t have to suck at all.”

Le Caquelon in Santa Monica is closed tonight for our private party. Alaine, Damien’s childhood friend and best man, owns the fondue-style restaurant, and has graciously offered it for this evening’s party.

I love the place, with its funky decor and wild colors. The last time I was here, Damien and I shared a very private booth. Tonight, everyone is gathered in the main restaurant. We are laughing, talking, and toasting. And, of course, indulging in the various fondue pots that Alaine has scattered throughout.

He has turned off the restaurant’s normal New Age music in favor of piping Rat Pack tunes from the speakers. Apparently he is aware that Damien and I share a love of Sinatra, Dean Martin, and the rest.

I smile at Damien, who is talking to Ollie and Evan across the room. He leaves them, then strides to me and pulls me close, easing me around the makeshift dance floor before dipping me, much to the amusement of the other guests. “I am a genius,” he says.

“So I’ve been told.”

“I also own a stereo,” he adds.

“This is also a fact that I’m aware of. I assume there’s some sort of connection coming.”

He points to the speakers. “We don’t need a band tomorrow. We just need a DJ.”

I gape at him. “You are a genius. Except I already told Sylvia to hire a band.”

“She didn’t have the heart to tell you, but they’ve all been booked.” He leans closer, nips my earlobe, then whispers, “I think you may be exhibiting signs of stress. My assistant was trying to protect you. I can’t say I blame her.”

I laugh and push him away, then immediately pull him back into my arms. “You’re in a good mood.”

“Of course I am. Haven’t you heard? I’m getting married tomorrow.”

“Lucky man,” I say.

“Very,” he replies, and the intensity of his gaze acts like an underscore to the word.

“I have something for you,” I say, tugging him to the far side of the restaurant where all the women have piled our purses. I had brought a huge tote, and now I pull out the present wrapped in silver paper.

He takes it, his expression so much like a boy on Christmas morning that I laugh with delight. “Go ahead,” I urge.

He peels off the paper, studies the book, then slowly opens it. I know the first image he sees—a snapshot of the two of us in Texas six years ago. It was an offhand shot by a local news reporter and it never even made the paper. I lucked into it after a call to the paper’s morgue. “Nikki,” he says, and there is awe in his voice. He flips through the pages, and the love I see in his eyes makes my knees go weak.

I watch as he examines every page, every memory. When he is finished, he closes the book with reverence, sets it gently on the table, and then pulls me close. “Thank you,” he says, those two words holding a lifetime of emotion.

He kisses me gently, then leads me back to the crowd. “I have a gift for you, as well,” he says, then looks at his watch. “I need about fifteen more minutes.”

My brow furrows as I wonder what he could be up to, but I nod. “That gives me plenty of time to make the circuit and eat more chocolate. Come with?”

“Of course,” he says, then follows me to the chocolate fondue station. Alaine is there, and we chat for a while. Then Alaine and Damien go off to talk with Blaine and Evelyn. Since I have something to ask Evelyn, I almost follow them, but Ollie approaches, and I pause to give him a hug.

“Hey, deposition guy. How goes the wild and woolly world of civil litigation?”

“Wild and woolly,” he replies with a grin. “And over. At least for a few weeks.” He waves to Charles Maynard, his boss, then leads me into a corner. “Charles asked if I wanted a transfer back to New York.”

“Really? Why?”

“Courtney, I think. I asked for the transfer to LA originally to be closer to her. Now that we’re not a couple . . .” He trails off.

“Are you going to take him up on the offer?” Ollie and I haven’t been as close lately, but I know that I will miss him if he moves.

“Thinking about it. But I’m on the fence. I love Manhattan, but LA has its perks, too.” He looks at me as if there is something else he wants to say.